You do hear a lot about 'player power,' but I'm one of those who believes the manager is there to take control, to be in charge.
What the manager says is what's important to me. What experts say doesn't interest me and never will. I know what I can do. I've not been playing at the top level for nothing. I've been successful.
There was something special about watching a manager and umpire both convinced they were totally right, but knowing that one had to be wrong. As an ump, those moments made my job fun, and getting 'nose-to-nose' was part of my job description.
I always said to the directors that the minute a player becomes more powerful than the manager of Manchester United, it's not Manchester United. You have lost control of the whole club. So I always made sure that I was in control. They always knew who the manager was.
Does the manager have absolute power in England? No, it depends on a budget and on the executive director that negotiates the signings of players.
I have to be involved in negotiations because players have to buy into me and what I want from them if they join my club, so all managers need to be fully involved in transfers, that's for sure.
You don't see players at United complaining to their manager when they are taken off.
It's critical that the manager has the respect of players so he can make the moves that he feels is appropriate without having somebody go to the papers. They respect you. So you respect them back.
